I've gone through several threads and I've established that most people think (as I do) that Saha is still United's 2nd best striker. However, this I have not gotten opinions on: Scholes behind Ruud or Saha next to Ruud? In my opinion, United have always been better in 4-4-2 and scholes was superb next to keano. I vote 4-4-2. Your views below please.
Scholes is a better player than Saha. In fact, I'd say the difference is significant enough that if there weren't another place to play scholes... I'd prefer the 4-4-1-1 simply to accomodate him. However, we can play Scholes in midfield and Saha beside Ruud up front.
SAF play 4-4-2 this season please. Not that I don't like 4-4-1-1 but it's a system that is unfair to the lone striker, leaving the poor guy chasing the ball and holding it, Ruud can play up front alone but with the firepower that we have why not play with 2 strikers. Ferdinand will be back and Heinze is a tough guy to beat so we don't need a 5-man midfield. We have done very well in the past playing 4-4-2.
4-4-1-1 was alright up to a point, but now i'd like to see more of the 4-4-2 that SAF started using last season after signing Saha. However, i'd like to see Rooney partnering RvN
ManU's back four should be stalwart this season and... Saha has to play up front with RVN. 4-4-2 for sure...I'd bank on it.
I agree, united's defence will be top class, so a 5 man midfield is not needed. But I wonder, was a 5-man midfield instilled in the first place to cover for our defencive frailty? I think not. I think we went 4-4-1-1 because we did not have the striker at Utd who could partner Ruud well, and Scholes filled in. But now with Saha and Smith, we should play 4-4-2.
The 4-4-2 is a very versitile formation, thats why so many teams across Europe use it. For Man U its a good one. It will allow us to play 2 of our best strikers and would back them with a midfield that would be able to adjust itself, depending on the opponent, to any style. It would also allow more space for runs by Ronaldo, Giggs, and even Scholes. the 4-4-1-1 is probabley a better formation for Europe though.
I don't agree. I think it would be better for United to have a standard playing style rather than to change it according to the opponents. Our team is strong enough to play any team in the world and we should do so in our own standard style. If SAF decides it should be 4-4-1-1, then we should play this in both the league and CL,but i would prefer 4-4-2.
Lets let our opponents prepare to be beaten. We should get back to being one of the more feared teams in Europe. We should go 4-4-2 and wreck defenses with our fire power rather than playing back and waiting for an opportunity which may never develop. Lets get back to taking the game to them.
So we're mostly for the 4-4-2 with Saha next to Ruud. So does this leave Smithy on the bench? Personally I think yes. If any of our forwards should be used in midfield occasionally,it's OGS. Unless Rooney comes, Smith will be our first choice sub for Saha or Ruud and Solskjaer for Ronaldo. And Scholes should go back to the heart of the midfield, despite his superb appearences in "the gap".
I expect Ruud to finish 3 of every 5 good chances. A 4-4-1-1 can provide this for him. However, if Ruud is off form, we struggle to score. If we had a younger Giggs, that lineup would be more deadly. I think it serves it purpose from time to time, although I obviously favor the more attacking 4-4-2.... I can't wait to see what Carlos and Fergie come up with this year, being as that we now have a player, in Saha, who can effectively partner Ruud up top...
Yes, I relish the thought as well... I suspect there will also be plans to make use of Ronaldo's talents as well... I think the luxury of having 2 wingers who can dribble their markers is something Quieroz can really exploit... Also... I remember 1 criticism of the 4-4-2 was that without Beckham who was renowned for tackling back and working hard it would not work as Scholes is a poor tackler and Keane is aging.... However, Ronaldo has really been putting alot of effort into getting back... he seems to be regularly defending near his area and 9 times out of 10, when he loses the ball he runs back and wins it back... his effort is really encouraging and I think that the 4-4-2 will not leave us exposed... not critically so anyway.